The Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) are designed to measure a candidate's knowledge of the subject matter contained in the test objectives for each field. The MTEL are aligned with the Massachusetts educator licensure regulations and, as applicable, with the standards in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.

The test objectives specify the content to be covered on the test and are organized by major content subareas. The chart below shows the approximate percentage of the total test score derived from each of the subareas.

The test assesses a candidate's proficiency and depth of understanding of the subject at the level required for a baccalaureate major according to Massachusetts standards. Candidates are typically nearing completion of or have completed their undergraduate work when they take the test.

Sub area I 18%, Sub area II 19%, Sub area III 18%, Sub area IV 15%, Sub area V 15%, and Sub area VI 15%.

Test Objectives

Table outlining test content and subject weighting by sub area and objective.

Objective 0008: Demonstrate understanding of and apply the linguistic structures of the target language.

Select cohesive devices used to connect discourse in a sentence or passage.

Select revisions to correct errors in morphology or syntax in a sentence or passage.

Transform a sentence or short passage according to given instructions (e.g., changing the tense or mood, changing a sentence from a positive statement to a negative statement, changing a sentence from active voice to passive voice).

Combine two or more sentences into one sentence that preserves the meaning of the original sentences.

Objective 0009: Demonstrate understanding of the similarities and differences between the target language and English.

Analyze the relationship between target-language words and their derivatives and cognates in English.

Recognize words and phrases in the target language that are commonly used in English discourse to express concepts associated with a variety of disciplines (e.g., music, art, science, philosophy, law).

Compare and contrast the sociolinguistic features of the target language with sociolinguistic features of English.

Subarea IV–Cultural Perspectives, Comparisons, and Connections

Objective 0010: Demonstrate knowledge of major developments in the history of target-language-speaking cultures and the significance of these developments.

For example:

Demonstrate knowledge of major historical events and key eras,
figures, and movements and their influence on the development and perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures (e.g., the French Revolution, colonialism, the Independence of Algeria, Jacques Cartier, Marie Curie, Toussaint Louverture, Léopold Sédar Senghor).

Recognize major physical and geographic features of target-language-speaking regions and the influence of these features on the overall development and culture of these regions (e.g., Saint Lawrence River, the Mediterranean, the Alps, the tropics).

Demonstrate knowledge of the political, social, and intellectual history of target-language-speaking cultures.

Compare and contrast historical development among target-language-speaking cultures and between target-language-speaking cultures and non-target-language-speaking cultures of the United States.

Analyze the nature and significance of historical interactions between target-language-speaking cultures and other cultures.

Objective 0011: Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and products of target-language-speaking cultures.

For example:

Demonstrate knowledge of products of daily life (e.g., food, clothing, types of housing) in target-language-speaking cultures and their role and significance in the culture.

Analyze the ways in which major literary texts (e.g., poems, short
stories, novels) and cultural texts (e.g., films, songs, newspapers and magazines) in the target language reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.

Identify major regional and national differences in the products and perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.

Recognize the perspectives and products of target-language-speaking cultures within the United States.

Objective 0012: Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between the perspectives and practices of target-language-speaking cultures.

For example:

Demonstrate knowledge of practices of daily life, customs, and major cultural institutions of target-language-speaking cultures and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.

Demonstrate knowledge of holidays and festivals of target-language-speaking cultures and ways in which they reflect the perspectives of target-language-speaking cultures.

Demonstrate understanding of the major internal and external political, technological, economic, social, and cultural trends that have influenced target-language-speaking cultures.

Identify major regional and national differences in the perspectives and practices of target-language-speaking cultures.

Recognize the perspectives and practices of target-language-speaking cultures within the United States.

Subarea V–Written Expression

Objective 0013: In response to a given prompt, write a well-organized passage of several paragraphs in the target language for a specified audience and purpose.

Compose a well-organized, focused, and clearly expressed composition in the target language that fulfills the purpose of the prompt.

Demonstrate the ability to use appropriate language and style for a specified audience, purpose, and occasion in the target language.

Organize ideas in a logically sequenced, well-connected, and consistently clear fashion in the target language.

Use effective and accurate sentence structure, word choice, spelling, and mechanics of the target language.

Use a broad range of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, time frames, cohesive devices, as well as simple and complex linguistic constructions in the target language.

Subarea VI–Oral Expression

Objective 0014: In response to a given prompt, communicate an effective oral message in the target language for a given audience and purpose.

Address the purpose of the prompt fully through the use of well-developed and supported ideas.